Former Circuit City CEO and Chairman Talks of Company’s Demise

Alan L. Wurtzel, the former chairman and CEO of Circuit City Stores Inc., said the now-defunct consumer electronics retail giant ultimately failed because it lost its way and was unable to make the needed changes in time to survive the recession.

“I think Circuit City declined in three stages,” said Wurtzel, son of Circuit City’s founder Sam Wurtzel.

He cited a lack of focus from one of his successors, the inability to follow through on plans from another and a clash of cultures brought about by the last CEO.